Packaging machine



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Jan. 1, 1963 D. H. zwlGH'r PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1o, 1961 5Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOI@ 2 Jan. 1, 1963 D. H. ZWIGHT 3,070,931

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, PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1o, 1961 v 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United StatesPatent 'Otice 3,070,931 Patented dan. l, 1963 3,670,931 PACKAGINGMACK-HNE Daniel H. Zwiglit, Houston, Tex., assignor to General PackagingEquipment Co., Houston, Tex., a corporation or" Texas Filed lan. 10,1961, Ser. No. 81,867' 2i) Qlaims. (Si. S35-82) The present inventionrelates to an improved packaging machine in which light products areplaced in bags, and more particularly to improvements in variouscomponents thereof including an anti-bridging device, weighingdispenser, clearing or stripping, sealing and deating device, mandrel,and adjustable sealer arm, and their combination with a packagingmachine.

Generally, machines for the packaging of free flowing light products,such as potato chips, include means for feeding the product to themachine, means for measuring or weighing the amount of the product to bepackaged, means for forming a roll of scalable material, such ascellophane, into a tube, means for sealing the edges of the material,means for sealing across the tube of material thereby forming a bottomfor the package, means for directing the weighed product into the tubewhose bottom has been formed, means for sealing the tube above theproduct placed therein thereby forming a top, means for cutting thepackaged product from the packaging material, and means for sequentiallyoperating the entire process.

When it is desired to package a uniform amount of a product, some meansfor measuring the volume or determining the weight to be placed in eachpackage is necessary. In packaging machines, this is generally done bycontinuously feeding the product to a scale where it is weighed. Whenthe weight reaches a predetermined level, the product is then dumpedinto the partially formed package. One of the limiting factorsencountered in packaging machines is the length of time needed toaccurately measure and separate out the predetermined portion for eachpackage. In commercial machines, it is desirable that this be done asrapidly as possible. In other packaging machines of the type of thepresent invention, on the order of about twenty weighings per minute arerealized. The packaging machine of the present invention providesaccurate weighings of separate portions of the product at a rate inexcess of forty portions per minute.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide animproved weighing dispenser for free flowing products in whichpredetermined uniform portions are rapidly and accurately weighed.

As conventional weighing dispensers involve the movement of considerablemechanical equipment and linkages, it is necessary that the weighingdevice be accurately and Vquickly reset to the same starting point foreach portion.

If suicient time is allowed for the weighing mechanism to balance andthus reset itself after the product is dumped, then, of course, eachweighing would be identical. However, when products are to be packagedat a rapid rate, such as the previously mentioned forty packages perminute, an automatic mechanism must be utilized to overcome the inertiaof the weighing mechanism. The present invention is designed to rapidlyreset to the zero point after each weighing so that speed, accuracy anduniformity are attained.

Thus, another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedweighing dispenser utilizing automatic resetting means between eachconsecutive weighing.

In packaging machines it is generally more economical to form thepackages from a large roll of a thin scalable material, such ascellophane. This material is mounted on a suitable mandrel, started oithe roll, and fed over a forming device or former such as that disclosedin United States Patent No. 2,899,875 and D. 186,133. Then the materialis sealed along its edges forming a hollow tube into which the productto be packaged is dumped and a suitable top and bottom formed on thefilled tube. In the process of lilling the tube, various heat sealersare used to form the top and bottom of the finished package. As this isdone, it is obvious that further cellophane must be pulled olf of theroll and into position for making consecutive packages. In the processof doing this at a high rate of speed, such as forty packages perminute, it is important that the roll be accurately aligned with theformer So that a satisfactory tube for lilling is formed. Therefore, itmust be possible to move the roll of cellophane laterally on the mandrelto correct for misalignment and slightly different sizes of rolls. Thepresent invention utilizes a unique and elicient means for adjusting therolls laterally on the mandrel quickly as well as adjusting forvariations in size of the core of the roll of cellophane, as well asfirmly gripping the roll.

Thus, another Aobject of the present invention is to provide an improvedmeans for adjustably holding a roll of packaging material so that it maybe readily and quickly aligned laterally on the supply mandrel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mandrel which isadjustable for and will accommodate varying core sizes of a roll ofpackaging material.

Yet another object 0f the present invention is to provide a mandrelwhich firmly grips a roll of packaging material and holds it in coaxialalignment with the mandrel.

As the product to be packaged is weighed, it is dumped into the tubeformed from the packaging material by the former. As the products to bepackaged are dumped from the weighing device they must, of course, bedirected into the tube of packaging material. This is accomplished bymeans of a hopper or a funnel. The outer diameter 0f the funnel must beslightly smaller than the inner diameter of the tube. If the productbeing packaged is, for example, potato chips, then the outlet diameterof the funnel may be of the order of four inches. Since this type ofproduct is rather light, it must be gently urged downwardly through thefunnel and this is normally accomplished by impinging short bursts ofair upon the lloW- ing product. Unfortunately, potato chips and otherlight products still tend to bridge over within the outlet of thefunnel, thereby resulting in packages being made which contain none orless than the desired amount of the product. At high speeds, such as therate of forty packages per minute, the entire weighing dispenser is soonclogged up with bridged product. The present invention, therefore,includes means to eliminate such bridging in the funnel.

It is, therefore, another object of the present invention to provide ananti-bridging device to prevent the accumulation of the product in thefunnel which directs the prod- 3 uct from the weighing dispenser intothe tube formed of the packaging material.

As the packaging material is pulled downwardly over the former, theedges are folded or lapped together so that a tube is formed. Theselapped edges are thereupon fused together by means of a heat sealer.'The heat sealer is an elongate at electric iron which isthermostatically controlled to provide Sufficient heat to the packagingmaterial So that a Satisfactory weld or fusing occurs in the timeinterval allotted while consecutive packages are being made. The sealermust press against the edges of the packaging material to provide a heatseal under pressure. The amount of pressure required depends entirelyupon the particular packaging material being sealed. When it is desiredto make larger or smaller packages then, of course, the former size mustbe changed so that the tube diameter is changed and, therefore, thesealer must be adjustable. The present invention accomplishes theseobjects by providing a yieldably urged adjustable arm which may also bedisengaged from and re-engaged with the tube of packaging material inthe course of a run so that a new roll of packaging material may be moreeasily fed to the former, and the like.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide ayieldably urged arm support for the heat sealer. Another object of thepresent invention is to provide a yieldably urged adjustable arm for theheat Sealer.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a yieldablyurged adjustable heat sealer arm which may readily be manipulated tomove the heat sealer into contacting and noncontacting position with thepackaging material.

After the tube of packaging material has been formed and the edgeswelded together, a bottom and a top for the package must be formed. Thismay be accomplished by providing transverse or horizontal heat Sealerswhich flatten the tube and seal it to form a bottom and thereafter theproduct is dumped into the tube and a second heat sealer transverselycloses the tube' above the product forming the completed package.Thereupon, the package must be cut loose from the tube, Such as with aknife, and the tube pulled down into position for another cycle. TheSame result may be accomplished if both the top and bottom heat Sealersare mounted together with a knife between them whereby the top of thefilled package and the bottom of the package being formed may be Sealedat the same time and the completed package cut loose from the tubing yetto be filled. Further, the entire assembly of Sealers and knives may bemounted in jaws which are reciprocated vertically so that when onepackage is completed the Sealers and knife will move upwardly and closeon a new portion of the tubing which will thereupon be pulleddownwardly, lled, and sealed. While this is conventional in the presentart, nonetheless two distinct problems must be overcome. When theSealers close to form the top of the filled package and the bottom ofthe new package, the product to be packaged should not be caught betweenthe Sealers, for to do so would provide an ineffective seal and anunattractive packaged product. Next, unnecessary air Should not remainin the package as it is sealed for this will more rapidly tend tooxidize and discolor the product being packaged. Of course, in someproducts it is desirable that the bag or package be filled with aparticular gas other than air, such as nitrogen, and this may be done bysurrounding the equipment involved in a particular atmosphere.

The present invention provides a means to strip that portion of thetubing of the product as it is about to be transversely sealed formingthe top of the filled package yand the bottom of the next consecutivepackage. This stripper acts in such a way as to insure the absence ofthe product to be packaged in the sealing area, but at the same timedoes not trap or force excess air into the ipackage being formed.Further, the stripper is arranged to not crush nor crumble the productbeing packaged, such as might be easily done with potato chips. This isaccomplished in the present invention by providing a pair of yieldabletransverse arms or rods which close together and strip or rake theproduct below the area in which the' Sealers fuse the tubing into acompleted package.

The strippers are also provided with grooves or recessed portionsthrough which the air which is trapped in the partially completed andfilled package escapes simultaneously.

lt is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide astripper which clears the product to be packaged from that area of thetube which is to be transversely Sealed.

Yet another object of the present invention iS to provide a stripperwhich is yieldably mounted So that the product to be packaged is urgedinto the partially formed packages and the product to be packaged is notcrushed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a stripper whichurges the product to be packaged into the package being formed and yetpermits air trapped in the partially formed package to escape therefrom.

As the product being packaged is stripped downwardly into the partiallyformed package, air is entrapped in the package which, if givensufficient time, would flow upwardly between the abovementioned recessesthrough the tube and out of the package. However, at a high rate such asforty packages per minute, sufiicient time is not available to allow theair to seek its own pressure differential; therefore, the presentinvention provides adjustable deflators to drive the air out of thepartially formed package and up beyond the stripper. The deflators mustbe designed so that the maximum amount of air is expelled withoutcrushing the product being packaged, or otherwise deforming the productor package. Further, the deilators must be adjustable for varyingweights and types of products being packaged as well as the shape of thepackage itself. Likewise, the deflators must not interfere with theinitial or consecutive filling of the partially formed package.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to providedeiiators which are adjustable so that the mum amount of air will beexpelled from the package being formed without crushing the productbeing packaged.

Another object of the present invention is -to provide deators which arereadily adjustable for varying types of products and sizes of packages.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide adjustabledeiiators which will not interfere with the lling of the partiallyformed package.

After the product to be packaged has been stripped from the area of thetubing in which the top of the filled package is to be sealed, and afterthe defiators have forced the excess air drawn into the package by thestrippers upwardly through the tubing, the heat Sealers close togetherfusing the packaging material and finishing the package. It Sometimesoccurs that additional products fall downwardly within the tube afterthe stripper has passed but before the heat Sealers close, andtherefore, it is necessary that provision be made in at least theuppermost heat Sealer, which is the one used for forming the bottom of anew package, to provide a somewhat flexible 0r yieldable mounting. Thus,if it should accidentally occur that some of the product to be packagedis caught between the heat Sealers when they are closed together, inspite of the best efforts of the abovementioned stripper, then it isobvious that a perfect seal will not result in the: package in whoseseam the product is caught. This, of." course, results in a defectivepackage which is not onlyy unattractive but is also not air tight.However, it further results in the heat Sealers not properly grippingthe tube of packaging material so that it may be firmly and uniformlypulled downwardly so that a package is` made,-

in sequence. The present invention is directed to the latter of theseproblems, that is, the proper gripping of the packaging material so thatuniform package lengths are achieved. As is Well known in the art, oftenthe packaging material is imprinted with various designs useful inadvertising the product. 'Ihese designs are properly sequenced or codedfor the packaging machine so that an electric eye can determine when onepackage ends vand another begins with electrical impulses. Theseimpulses may be properly fed, in a conventional manner, to thereciprocating jaws so that identical packages are produced. It is thusimportant that the jaws or heat Sealers firmly grip the -tube ofpackaging material. Further, this gripping must take place even thoughpart of the product may be accidentally caught between the heat sealers.The present invention is, therefore, provided with a spring-loaded heatsealer on at least one side so that even if a portion or" the product iscaught within the tubing between the opposed heat sealers, nonethelessthe tubing will be firmly gripped and pulled downwardly by thereciprocating motion of the jaws.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention t providespring-loaded gripping jaws so that the tube of packaging material willbe firmly gripped even if part of the product to be packaged isaccidentally caught within the tubing being gripped.

With a combination of the above Imentioned means, it is posible toprovide a packaging machine which will operate in excess of twice thespeeds found in conventional packaging machines, and will thus packagemore than forty packages per minute. 'I'he present invention, therefore,overcomes the disadvantages of uneven weighings, product bridging in thehopper, misalignment of the packaging material roll, pressure sealing ofthe tubing, the tendency of the product to be caught between packages,the tendency of the packages to be filled with excess air or crushedproducts, and the tendency of the tube of packaging material to slip inthe jaws if part of the product is caught therebetween. Consequently, itis an object of the present invention to overcome all of the abovementioned disadvantages of conventional machines, as well as toaccomplish all of the above mentioned objects.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a packagingmachine which is readily adjustable for varying weights and types ofpackaging materials.

Other and further objects, features and advantages will be apparent fromthe following description of a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention, given for the purpose of disclosure and taken in conjunctionwith the ac` companying drawings, where like character referencesdesignate like parts throughout the several views, and where:

FIGURE l is a partial sectional View of a packaging machine according tothe present invention showing schematically the principal assembliesherein involved,

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1, showing the relative movement ofsome of the parts,

FGURE 3 is an end view of the reciprocating jaws, stripper and deators,showing in dotted lines the movement of the deilators,

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, however, being partially insection and showing the reciprocating jaws closed,

FIGURE 4A is a fragmentary view of FIGURE 4 showing a modification ofthe deilators,

FIGURE 5 is a further partial sectional view of the jaws showing indetail the jaws and the cutoff knife and horizontal Sealers,

FIGURE 6 is a partial top view of the stripper, taken along the line 6 6of FIGURE 5,

FIGURE7 is a partial sectional view of the adjustable spindle or mandrelfor a roll of packaging material taken along the line 7 7 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 8 is a partial sectional view from the top of d the adjustablearm for holding the tubing heat sealer taken along the line SS of FIGURE2,

FIGURE 9 is a schematic representation of the reciprocating mechanismfor the jaws and showing the opening and closing mechanism,

FIGURE l() is a partial schematic view of the Weighing device, and

FIGURE 11 is a partial sectional side view of the weighing deviceshowing the zeroing or resetting mechanism, taken along the line lll-11of FIGURE 10.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG- URE 1, thereference numeral lil generally designates the packaging machine,wherein a free flowing product 12 is weighed and dispensed into a sealedpackage formed from a roll of packaging material ld. The product 12 tobe packaged may consist of any free flowing material, such as cornchips, potato chips, cookies, popcorn, rice, etc. The packaging material14 need only be flexible and heat scalable. A conventional material forthis purpose is cellophane which is available in various thicknesses,widths, and sizes of rolls, and which may be imprinted or embossed withvarious designs. The various steps encountered in a packaging machinelil include the weighing and dispensing of the product 12 into a tube Tformed from the packaging material I4, the sealing of the overlappingedges of the packaging material 14 and the formation of the bottom ofthe package P, iilling up the package with the product 12, and theformation of the top of the package and the subsequent cutting loose ofthe package from the tube of packaging material i4. The product may befed to the packaging machine i@ in any conventional manner, variousconveyors being available commercially, such as the vibrating feedtrough 16. As the above features of the packaging machine it? are wellunderstood in the art, no further explanation thereof is deemednecessary.

The product IZ is fed to the weighing dispenser 18 by means of thevibratory feeding device i6. The weighing dispenser 18 must portion outconsecutively equal amounts of the product 12 to be packaged. Further,the Weighing dispenser I8 must thereafter discharge these portions ofthe product 12 so that they may be funneled into the 'tubing T formedfrom the packaging material I4. In the process of doing this, theweighing dispenser must not crush the product 112, nor impede the ilowof the product 12 for any longer time than is absolutely necessary forweighing the product and it must be readily adjustable for varyingweights of the product so that the down ytime between runs is held to aminimum. To accomplish these results, the weighing dispenser 13generally comprises a tubular body 20 having a movable door 22, both ofwhich are conventionally suspended as a part of a balance weighingmechanism (not shown). The movable door 22 operates in the manner of abutterfly valve about the shaft 24. The product 12 thus falls into thetubular body 2@ and is restrained therein by the door 22. As thepro-duct approaches the preset weight, the Weighing dispenser I8 movesdownwardly to balance Iagainst the Weights (not shown) until the desiredWeight of the product 12 is reached. Thereupon, the weighing dispenser13 stops its downward movement, and the door 22 moves in the directionof the arrow (shown in FIGURE 1) about the shaft 24 dumping the productto be packaged into the hopper 26.

The door 22; is operated when the weighing dispenser 18 has moveddownwardly enough to close the switch 28. The switch 2g is shown closedin FIGURE l, While the switch 2% is shown open in FIGURE 2. The switch28 thereupon, through means of an electro-pneumatic system,consecutively operates the air cylinders or pistons Sti, best shown inFIGURE 10. It is, of course, obvious that the switch 28 and pistons tlmay be replaced with an electro-hydraulic system, a purely mechanicalsystem, a purely pneumatic system, or a purely electrical system, or anyother appropriate means.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, when the switch 28 is closed, the piston 3l)is energized and acts downwardly to pivot the 4-bar linkage 32 whichraises the lift 34, as shown by the arrows. Attached to one end of 'theshaft 24 and perpendicular to the plane of the door 22 is a toggle arm36. At each end of the toggle arm 36 are situated rollers 33. Attachedto the toggle arm 36 is a spring ttl whose other end is attached to thetubular body 20 of the weighing dispenser l. In the position of the door22 shown in FEGURE 1l, the spring di) acting through the toggle arm 36and shaft 24 holds the door 22 against the side of the tubular body Ztl.`JJhen the piston 3l) is activated and the lift 3d is pulled upwardly,it contacts the roller 33 which acts through the toggle arrn 36 andshaft 2d to rotate the door 22 within the tubular body Ztl, and therebydips the door 22 into the other of its positions against the body 26where it is there held by the spring dil. The positions of the door 22are best seen by comparing FIGURES 1 and 2. Referring again to FTGURE l,as the door 22 rotates, the product l2, which has been weighed, fallsdownwardly into the hopper 26, and more of the product l2 is fed intothe weighing dispenser t8 by the vibrator-y feed trough i6. It is, ofcourse, possibleto interrupt the feed of the trough 16 during the timethat the door 22 is being moved from one position to the other withconventional electrical means.

The upward movement of the lift 34 also tends to raise the completeweighing dispenser 18 upwardly toward the normal unloaded position.However, as this is done in excess of forty portions per minute, theweighing dispenser not only rises rapidly and hits the limit stops (notshown), but also tends to bounce back downwardly. Means are provided toprevent this effect, reference being now made to FIGURE ll. As the lift34; raises the weighing dispenser 18 the electromagnet d2 is energized.Attached to the body 26 or the weighing dispenser 1S is an arm 4d whichpivots about the fulerurn 15:6 and includes at one end the weight i8 forcounterbalancing the weight of the product l2. is a bracket 56 which isattracted by a magnetic field, such as that produced when theelectro-magnet 42 is energized. The electro-magnet 42 and bracket 56 arephysically arranged so that when the weighing dispenser 18 is empty andperfectly balanced, the bracket 5l) is in contact with the core of theelectro-magnet 42. Therefore, as the weighing dispenser 13 movesupwardly and the bracket- 5l? attached to the arm d moves downwardly andwhen the electro-magnet 62 is energized, the bracket S6 will Contact thecore of the electro-magnet 42 and will be held in that position so longas the electromagnet 42 is energized. The electro-magnet 42 remains inits energized state momentarily, but long enough to damp the inertia andrebound effect of the weighing dispenser ll. Thereupon to consecutivelyweigh another portion of the product i2, the electro-'nagnet 42 isdeenergized and the weighing dispenser 18 moves downwardly with theweight of the product against the door 22 and body 2t) against thescales (not shown) until the Switch 28 is again closed. Thus it is seenthat the weighing dispenser l in combination with conventional scales,will accurately weigh a predetermined amount of the product to bepackaged quickly, and will reset to the zero point after each automaticweighing period. lt should also be noted that either side of the door ZZin conjunction with the body 2G may be used to weigh the product 12.Therefore, by one movement of the door 22, the previously weighedproduct is dispensed downwardly into the hopper 26 and the weighingdispenser S is in position to receive a second portion of the product l2for weighing.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, as the product falls downwardly into thehopper 26 it is directed therethrough by means of a funnel 52 into thetube T formed from Attached to the arm 4d n the packaging material 14.In order that the product l2 may be placed in the tube T formed by thepackaging material 14, it is sometimes necessary that the funnel 52 havean outlet diameter of four inches or even smaller. light and ratherbulky, such as potato chips, the product l2 will tend to bridge oversuch a small diameter within the funnel, with the result that packagesare formed without products, and the weighing dispenser is clogged. Toovercome this tendency, the present invention utilizes anti-bridgingdevice 54 within the funnel 52. The antibridging device 54 includes afalse side 56 within the funnel 52. Attached to the false side 56 andextending through the funnel 52 is a connecting rod 53 which terminateswithin a cylinder 58 as a piston 55. When pulsating air is supplied tothe inlet 66 of the cylinder S8, the piston 55, connecting rod 53, andfalse side 56 reciprocate rapidly. Thus, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 thefalse side 56 is pneumatically operated with consecutive pulses of airthrough the inlet 6l). It is obvious, of course, that otherreciprocating means may be utilized, such as an electro-pneumaticvibrator or a cam, neither being shown. it is also true that the falseside 56 need only reciprocate when the product l2 is passing through thefunnel 52. It has been found that the reciprocating side 56 effectivelyeliminates any bridging tendencies of the product 12 being packaged.

As it is generally more economical to form packages from a large roll Rof thin scalable material, such as cellophane, provision must be madefor holding such a roll on the machine. Schematically, such a roll R isshown in FIGURES l and 2 mounted on the rotatable spindle 62. As waspreviously mentioned in the objects of this invention, it is highlydesirable to make provision for rapidly adjusting the roll R ofpackaging material 14 laterally on the spindle 62 as well as adjustingfor small variations in the size of the core of the roll of packagingmaterial. Referring now to FIGURE 7, the roll R of packaging material 14is shown in cross-section mounted on the mandrel 64 which is in turnmounted on the spindle 62. The spindle 62 is conventionally mounted onthe frame of the packaging machine l0 so that it will rotate, such as inthe roller bearings 63. Between the spindle 62 and the mandrel 64% ateach end thereof, are located grooves 66 which are pneumaticallyconnected through the passageway 68 to appropriate supply means (notshown). The spindle 62 is a hollow conduit, each end of which is closedby a plug 65. About the end of the spindle 62 is a groove forming partof the passageway 65. The groove is sealed by the stationary seal 67which includes the air inlet 69. When it is desired to alter thelocation of a roll of packaging material 14 upon the spindle 62 airsupplied to the inlet 69 and thus to the passageway 66 and grooves 66 isvented to atmosphere so that the mandrel 64 takes the position shown inthe upper half of FIGURE 7. After the roll of packaging material 14 isplaced in the desired position, air is supplied to the inlet 69 and thusto the passageway 68 and grooves66 thereby swelling the diameter of themandrel 64 in the vicinity of the grooves 66 so that the mandrel 64assumes the position shown in the bottom half of FIGURE 7. The mandrel64 is made of neoprene or rubber or any other slightly inflatablematerial which may be secured air tight to the spindle 62 except in thevicinity of the grooves 66. By providing grooves 66 at each end of themandrel 64, the roll R of packaging material 14 is held in coaxialalignment with the Spindle 62. This would not be possible if the entiremandrel 64 were expanded along its length, for then the roll R ofpackaging material ld might tend to wobble on the spindle 62. Of course,it is immaterial whether the grooves 66 are within the mandrel 64 or onthe spindle 62. Thus it is possible to account for variations in thecore diameter of the roll R of packaging material 14 by increasing theair pressure, as well as to readily When the product l2 to be packagedis very laterally adjust the material by venting the passageway Ofcourse, the pressure of the air applied to the passageway 68 and grooves66 may be varied so that the roll R of packaging material 14 is firmlyheld to the mandrel 64.v Although air has been mentioned as theoperating means, any other iluid would be within the scope of theinvention.

The roll R of packaging material 14 is fed around and over a former 70,as shown in FIGURES l and 2, so that a tube T of packaging material isformed. Immediately after passing through the former, the wedges of thepackaging material are fused together to form an elongate tube T. Thisfusing is accomplished by means of the heat sealer 72 which bearsagainst the packaging material 1d, which in turn bears against anappropriate plate 74. The heat sealer 72 is a thermostaticallycontrolled electric iron whose function is to fuse together theoverlapped edges of the packaging material 14, thereby forming an airtight seam in the tube T. The heat s-ealer 72 must accomplish thisresult in the time allotted while the packaging material 14 is beingmoved downwardly so that new packages may be consecutively formed.Because there are often variations in the thickness of the packagingmaterial 14, the heat sealer 72 must be yieldingly mounted or pressedagainst the packaging material 14 and the plate 74. Also, to effect atight seal in some types of packaging material 14, the seal must be madewith an adjustable combination of heat and pressure. Further the heatsealer 72 must be readily adjustable for Varying sizes of tubing to beformed and must also be readily disengageable when it is desired to stopmaking packages in the middle of a run. To accomplish this result, withreference being made now to FGURE 8, the heat sealer 72 is mounted onthe movable arm 76 which is pivotably mounted to the frame 73 of themachine 10. To prevent unwanted movement of the arm 76 and of the heatsealer 72 attached thereto, also pivotably mounted to the frame 73 andto the arm 76 is the adjustable arm S0. The adjustable arm 80 isdesigned so that its length may be increased or decreased with theproper manipulation thereby moving the heat sealer 72 closer to orfurther away from the packaging material 145 and plate 74 and likewiseadjusting the pressure exerted thereon. Likewise, the adjustable arm 80is constructed so that it may be readily lengthened a short distance tomove the heat sealer 72 completely out of contact with the packagingmaterial 14 and the plate 7d. To accomplish these results, theadjustable arm 00 includes a hollow tubular body d2 which is swingablyor pivotably mounted to the frame 78. The body 82 is here disclosed ashaving a rectangular cross-section so that a square nut 34- may slideaxially within the body 82 but the square nut 34 will not rotate withinthe body 82. Obviously, other means may be utilized, to provide thetelescopic non-rotatable action of the nut 84, such means includingsplined body, keyed body, etc. (not shown). Threadably attached to thenut S4 is the shaft 86 which includes a knob S8 at the opposite end.Spaced along the shaft S6 is a bushing 90 in which the shaft S6 rotates,the bushing 90 being held axially on the shaft d6 by conventionalretainers, such as the snap rings 92. Within the body S2 a spring 94presses against the nut S4 at one end and against a shoulder 96 on thebody 82. When the kno-b 8S is rotated, the shaft 86 attached theretoalso rotates, thereby threading the shaft 86 into the nut 04 andchanging the length of the adjustable arm 80. The bushing @il ispivotally mounted on the arm 76. Therefore, as the knob 88 is rotatedand the shaft S6, for example, threads inwardly through the nut 84, thelength of the adjustable arm 80 is shortened, thereby rotatinU the arm76 and the heat sealer 72 is moved closer to the tube T of packagingmaterial 14 and plate 74. Because the spring 94 is thereby compressedwhen the shaft 86 is rotated in the nut 84, the pressure between 10 theheat sealer 72 and the packaging material 14 and plate 74 is adjustable.

Exterior of the shoulder on the body 82 is placed a linger 93 which isattached to the body 82 by a leaf spring 100. Attached to the shaft 86between the bushing 90 and the nut 04 is a collar 102 which will slidebetween or within the `internal diameter of the shoulder 96 on the body32. When it is desired to release the heat sealer from the packagingmaterial 14 and plate 74 so that no contact is made therewith, thefinger 98 is pulled outwardly and the arm 76 and heat sealer 72 are alsopulled outwardly so that the collar 102 is moved beyond the shoulder 96and the linger 98. Thereupon the iinger 93 is released and theleafspring 100 urges it inwardly toward the shaft 06. Then, when theheat sealer 72 is released, the spring 94 expands and urges the nut 84and shaft 36 inwardly within the body 82 to shorten the adjustable arm@0, but the collar 102 contacts the outer edge of the finger 93, therebypreventing the arm from returning to its original position. Thus, thehot heat sealer 72 is released from contact with the tube T of packagingmaterial 14 and the plate 74. At this time the run may be interrupted,or the size of the tube T of packaging material 14 changed. When it isagain desired to contact the packaging material 14 and plate 74 with theheat sealer 72, the finger 9S is pulled outwardly and the spring 94presses against the nut S4 shortening the adjustable arm 80 until theheat sealer 72 and the arm 76 pivot into contact with the tube T ofpackaging material 14 and plate 74.

After a tube T of packaging material 14 has been formed by means of theformer 70 and the heat sealer 72, a bottom of the package P must beformed in the tube of packaging material. ThisA is accomplished by meansof the horizontal heat sealer 104. Thereafter, when the package isfilled by dumping the weighed pro-duct 12 into the partially formedpackage, the top of the package P must be sealed by the heat sealer 106and the finished package P cut from the tube of packaging material 14 bythe knife 108. At the same time, a new portion of tubing must be pulledinto position so that the cycle may be repeated. In the presentinvention, this is accomplished by mounting the heat sealers 104 and 106and the knife 10S on a pair of movable jaws 110 which pivot on the axes112. The axes 112 are pivotally mounted upon a reciprocating frame 114which moves upwardly and downwardly, its total travel being at least thelength of the packageto be formed. Thus when it is desired to form thebottom of a new package P from the tube T of the packaging material 14,the jaws are pivoted upwardly and outwardly, so that they assume theposition shown in FIGURE 3. Thereupon, the entire frame 114, whichincludes the jaws 110 and Sealers 104 and 106, moves upwardly, then thejaws move inwardly and downwardly to the position shown in FIG- URE 4.At this time, the heat Sealers 104 press against one another through theflattened tube of packaging material 14 and the package of material isfused together forming the bottom of the package. Then the entire frame114 including the jaws 110 and Sealers 104 and 106 move downwardly thelength of the package to be formed, whereupon the jaws again openupwardly and outwardly assuming the position shown in FIGURE 3.

At this time the product to be packaged is dumped through the tube Tinto the partially formed package P, while the jaws and frame are movingupwardly where they will again close as shown in FIGURE 4. At this timethe bottom of the next succeeding package P is formed by the heatSealers 104 while the top of the previously filled package P is formedby the heat sealers 106. Thereupon the frame 114 and jaws 110 includingthe heat Sealers 104 and 106 move downwardly to bring more packagingmaterial into position for lling, and the knife 108 moves laterally soas to separate the completed package P from the tube of packagingmaterial. The mechanism utilized to open and close the jaws and to movethe frame upwardly and downwardly is illustrated schematically in FEGURE9.

Referring now to FlGURE 9, a motor M drives the crank mechanism 116through a conventional clutch 118, appro-priate pulleys 121i and 122 andbelt 124,. The crank mechanism 116 includes the crank arm 126 and theconnecting rod 123 which is connected to the frame 114. Thus, as themotor M rotates, the crank arm 126 rotates, the connecting rod moves andthe frame 114 moves up and down along the guides The guides 131i areattached to the frame of the packaging machine 10. When the frame 114has reached the bottom of the stroke, the jaws 110 are opened with therotation of the shafts 112 by the sector gears 1319, which are in turnoperated by the rack 132 which is moved upwardly and downwardly by thedouble acting piston and cylinder arrangement 134. Thus, attached to therack 132 is a piston shaft 136 which conventionally passes through astufling box (not shown) into the cylinder 133 where it terminates in apiston 141i. When it is de` sired to open the jaws 110, hydraulic uid issupplied through the inlet 1112 so that the piston 14d is moved upwardlywithin the cylinder 13S, then the shaft 136 is moved upwardly, and thesector gears 131B rotate upwardly so that the shafts 112 are rotated andthe jaws 111i open upwardly and outwardly, as in FIGURE 3. Likewise,when it is desired to close the jaws 11@ when the frame 114i has movedto the top of the slope, hydraulic liuid is supplied to the cylinder andpiston assembly 13d` through the inlet 144 so that the piston 141% ismoved downwardly within the cylinder 13S, the shaft 136 movesdownwardly, the rack 132 moves downwardly, the sector gears 151B arerotated, the shafts 112 are rotated, and the jaws 110 are closed, as inFIGURE 4. It is, of course, obvious that other fluids may be utilized tooperate the piston and cylinder arrangement 134, such as air, water,etc. It should be noted that the pivotal connection between the crankarm 126 and the connecting rod 128 is adjustable along the crank arm126. Therefore, in a conventional manner, it is easy to adjust theultimate length of stroke produced in the frame 114i when the crankmechanism 116 is rotated, because the effective length of the crank arm126 is adjustable. in the present invention this is accomplished byrotating the leadscrew 127 which extends through the crank arm 126 andthe pivotal co-nnection to the connecting rod 123. An appropriatelocknut 129 or setscrew may be utilized to secure the leadscrew 127.

Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, it is seen that the jaws 110 havemounted thereon the heat sealers 11i-fi and 1136 and the knife 108. Aswas previously mentioned in the objects, strippers are provided to clearthe product 12 out of the immediate area where the horizontal seals areto be effected.

The strippers above referred to are shown schematically in FlGURE l,being generally identified as 1%. It is seen in FGURE l that thestrippers 14% urge the product 12 downwardly into the partially formedpackage P when the jaws 11@ close to form the top of the partiallyfinished package P and the bottom of the new package P. Referring now toFIGURES 3 and 4, it is seen that these strippers 14S comprise a groovedor recessed bar 150 which runs the entire length of the jaws 111i and isreciprocally mounted therein by the shaft 152 at each end of the bar151i. In the cross-sectional view of FIGURE 4, it is seen that the shaft152 tits into a cylinder 15d formed within the jaws 114). The inwardlyend of the shaft 152 comprises a piston 153 to prevent the shaft 152from passing through the shoulder 156 within the cylinder 154-. Theshoulder 156 is retained within the cylinder 154 by means of the snapring 15S. Aro-und the circumference of the shoulder 156 an O-ring 16@ isplaced to prevent the operating air for the shaft 152 from leaking toatmosphere around the shoulder 156.

Likewise, within the shoulder 156 another O-ring 162 is mounted toprevent air from leaking to atmosphere about the shaft 152. By thissimple and effective mechanism, it is possible to remove the entirestripper bar 151i and shafts 152, shoulder 156 and O-rings 160 and 162,for cleaning, adjustment or alteration simply by removing the snap ring15S. Operating air for the stripper 14S is led into the cylinder 154through the inlet 1641 in the jaw 110.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, it is seen that the strippers 14? are in anextended position and ready for the jaws 11i) to close so that thesealers 1114 and 166 may form the bottom and top respectively of thepackages P. As the jaws are closed, the strippers 148 remain in theirextended position forcing any product 12 between the stripper bars 151idownwardly into the partially finished package. An intermediate view ofthis process is best depicted in FIGURE l, although it is also shown indotted lines in FIGURE 5. As the jaws continue to close, they assume theposition shown in FEGURE 4 wherein the strippers 143 have abuttedagainst each other and the jaws are horizontal with the sealers 1114 and1116 sealing the tube T of packaging material 14. in this position, airto the inlet 1641 has been vented so that the strippers remain in theirinoperative position. Thereupon, to prepare for a second cycle, the jaws111B are swung upwardly and outwardly and the operating air for thestrippers 148 is supplied to the shafts 152 through the inlets '164 andthe jaws 11i). Thereupon, the shafts 152 move upwardly, as seen inFIGURE 3, until the piston 153 at one end thereof strikes the shoulder156 within the cylinder 154. The strippers are now ready for anotherpackage P to be formed.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, a partial top view of the stripper bars 151ishown in FIGURES 4 and 5 is shown. In this view, it is noted that thestripper bars 151i comprise several diameters. When the stripper bars15) rake downwardly over the tube of packaging material 14, it is, ofcourse, obvious that air within the tube is pulled downwardly into thepartially formed package. To prevent this air from bursting the packagebeing formed, it is necessary that a means of escape for this air beprovided. Therefore, the recess 166 is provided in the stripper bar 150.When the stripper bars have butted together, the tube of packagingmaterial is pressed almost at except for that part of the package whichis expanded within the area left by the grooves 166 and thus the packageassumes the shape partially shown as 163. Air entrapped within thepartially formed package, therefore, escapes upwardly at each end of thestripper bars 156 in the area of the grooves 166. It is to be noted thatthe strippers 148 are independently connected to air inlets 164, andtherefore, if there should be a variation in the air supply, one of thestrippers might extend outwardly further than the other stripper. Toprevent this accidental occurrence, the upright 170 is provided at thecenter of closure of the jaws 111i. As can best be seen in FIGURE 6, theupright 171i is designed to t between the stripper bars 15@ when inperfeci alignment as the jaws 116 are closed. The upright 17@ onlycontacts the strippers 143 in the last phase of their inward anddownward movement when the jaws 111i are closing.

Although enough air escapes from the partially formed package P, shownas 16S in FlGURE 6, between the groove 166 and the stripper bar 151D, toprevent the package from blowing out the already formed bottom or sideseams, nonetheless an excess of air would remain in the filled packageP. Therefore, it is necessary to expel as much of this entrapped air asis possible before the top is finally sealed by the heat sealer 106. Aswas previously mentioned in the objects, the deiiators 172 are used forthis purpose. Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, the deators 172 compriseelongate rollers 174 mounted in tandem together by the linkage 176, andare pivotally mounted to the jaws 111i. Also attached to the linkage 176is the adjustable cam 17g which is adjusted by means of the screw 1811or other conventional means. When the jaws 11i? are open, as shown inFIGURE 3, the rollers 174 rest vertically one under the other, therebyleaving a wide space between the jaws 119 for the tube Tof packagingmaterial 14 and the product 12 therein. As the jaws 110 begin to close,`as best seen in FIGURE 1, the deiiators 172 move inwardly and towardeach other, squeezing the air entrapped within the partially formedpackage P upwardly through the tube of packaging material 14.rThereupon, when the jaws Vare completely closed Ias seen in FGURE 4,the deflators 172 hang downward and outwardly as shown.

Referring to FIGURE 4A, a modification of the deiiators 172 is shown.Instead of the rollers 174 and linkage 176, a plate 176e is pivotablymounted to the jaws 1111. Attached to the plate 176a is a layer 17S ofsponge rubber or other similar resilient material. The inward surface ofthe sponge rubber layer 175 is covered with a sheet 177 of smooth, slickmaterial, such as Teflon (tetrafiuoroethylene polymer). The advantage inusing an inner surface of Teon or the like for the sheet 177 is that itis smooth and slick, hence the packaging material 14 will not 'tend tostick nor temporarily adhere to the sheet. The sponge rubber 175 tendsto absorb shock and thereby prevents excessive breaking or crumbling ofthe product being packaged, yet the sponge rubber layer 175 deforms tobetter deflate the partially completed package.

Referring now rto FIGURE 3, it is seen that the crank cam 17S may beadjusted by means of the screws 180 so that the deflator will assume theposition shown in the dotted lines when the jaws are completely closed.Thus, it is possible when the crank cam 173 strikes the upright 171)v toeliminate virtually all of the air within the package formed of thepackaging material 14. Of course, if the crank cam 178 were placed inthe position shown in FIGURE 3, a product such as potato chips would becrushed thereby, and consequently the screws 1&0 must be losened so thatthe crank cams 178 do not force the deators 172 as close together asthat shown in FIGURE 3. For a reason which is not fully understood, ithas been found that in the rapid downward or closing movement :of `thejaws 11i? it is necessary that the crank cam 17S should strike theupright 171i to prevent the partially completed bag from being lilledwith excess air, yet at the same time the products therein, such aspotato chips, are not crushed. Although logically, it would seen thatsuch is not necessary, nonetheless it has been found to be true. Theupright 170 also prevents one of the pair of deilators 172 from swingingoff of its side into the path of the other deflator, should the inertiaor frictional resistance of one of the deflators 172 be different fromthat of the other.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 5, an enlarged partial sectionalview of the jaws 110 is shown with particular emphasis on fthe mechanismfor operating the knife 108 and the mounting of the uppermost horizontalheat sealer 1174. When the jaws 110 have completely closed so that theheat Sealers 164 and 106 contact each other through the dat :tube T ofpackaging material 1li forming the top of the finished package P and thebottom of the next consecutive package P, the knife 1118 is movedlaterally between the jaws to cut the finished package P from the tubeof packaging material 14. The knife 108 is attached to a piston rod 182in a conventional manner, such as by the screw 1&4. At the inwardly endof the piston rod 132 is located the piston 186 within the cylinder 138.Inserted around the piston rod 182 and within rthe cylinder 18S is ashoulder 19t) which is held within the cylinder 13S by means of the snapring 192. Between the shoulder 1911 and the piston 186 and about thepiston rod 182 is the compression spring 19d which serves to hold orpush the piston 186 inwardly within the cylinder ISS.

Therefore, the knife 1115 is held within one of the jaws 11@ between theheat Sealers 104 and 1116. When it is desired to move the knife 16Slaterally between the jaws 11i?, air is supplied to the cylinder 183through the inlet 1%. The air thus supplied will push the piston 186,piston rod 12 and knife 1113 laterally so as to cut the finished packageP from the tube T of packaging material 14. Located in a recess orgroove in the piston 186 is an O-ring 19S which prevents the airintroduced from the inlet 196 in the cylinder 1% from escaping about thepiston 18.6. When the air supplied to the inlet 1% is vented toatmosphere, after the nished package has been cut from the tube ofpackaging material 14, then the spring 19d urges the piston 136, pistonrod 182 and knife 1% inwardly within the cylinder 18S, thereby endingthe knife stroke.

As was previously mentioned in the objects, it sometimes occurs thatnotwithstanding the best efforts of the strippers 143 to remove all ofthe product 12 being packaged from that area of the ytubing in which thejaws will close so that horizontal seals may be effected, some part ofthe product might accidentally still remain within the tube T ofpackaging material 14. And, of course, it is possible for some of theproduct 12 to fall downwardly within the tube T of packaging material 14after the strippers 143 have raked downwardly but before the jaws 11@have closed. If either of these conditions were to happen, when the jaws11@ close and the heat sealers 11B/i and 1th? attempt to seal the top ofthe iinished package and the bottom of the next succeeding package, theproduct 12 may be caught Within the seal. When this happens, then aperfect seal does not result in the finished package and consequentlythat package is lost, so far as commercial activity is concerned.However, the important problern is not the loss of one or two packages,but the insecure grip effected by the jaws 1111 and heat Sealers 111-4.-and 166 when closed so that the tube of packaging material slips thereinand is not uniformly pulled downwardly. If this were to happen, thenmatter printed upon the packaging material 1d would not uniformly appearin the same place `on all of the finished packages. Therefore, it isimportant to provide a means within the jaws 11@ to firmly grasp thetube of packaging material 14 so that it is uniformly pulled downwardlythe same distance, thereby resulting in identical packages. This isaccomplished in the present invention by spring-loading one of theuppermost horizontal heat sealers 1114, such as that designated inFIGURES 4 and 5 as 1042-. By this method, a uniform grip on the tube ofpackaging material 14 is assured.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, it is seen that a cornpression spring 146 ismounted within a counterbore in the heat sealer 1114. This spring 146presses against the jaw 1111 and against the heat sealer 11i-1l',pushing it outwardly. To retain the heat sealer 111/1 on the jaw 1111,with reference now being made to FGURE 5, also located on the heatsealer 1114 at either end is a hoiding means, such as the screw 2MB.This screw 2% serves to prevent the spring 14o from urging the heatsealer 111-11r completely free of the jaw 11d. It is, of course, obviousthat other means than the helical compression spring 1% may be used,such as a leaf spring (not shown). Therefore, in this manner, a uniformgrip between the heat Sealers 111s and 1% upon a tube T of packagingmaterial 14 is assured, even though some part of the product 12 may becaught therebetween.

Having thoroughly described the operation and use of the varioussubcombinations used within the present invention, the operation of theentire combination into a packaging machine accurately and uniformlyproduces an excess of forty packages per minute. Throughout many of theabove disclosed combinations, specific forms or shapes of mechanism havebeen described. By these descriptions, it was not meant to limit thepresent invention to those physical forms, but rather to broadly claim ltheir equivalents as well. Further, some intermixing of the consecutivesteps hereinafter described in the use 0i the packaging machine itl islikewise obvious. As it is not felt that an extremely detailed sequenceneed be given, the following summary is presented:

In use, the product l2 to be packaged in the packaging material 14 isfed into the weighing dispenser which contains a butterfly type door 22.The product falls upon one side of the door 22 within the body Ztl to beweighed by the scales (not shown). When the proper weight of the productis accumulated, the switch 22E is closed, an the pistons Sil areactivated raising the appropriate lifter 34 which close the door 22 intothe other of its ultimate positions. Thereupon the product l2; which hasnow been accurately weighed, is dumped downwardly into the hopper 26toward the tube T of packaging material formed about the former '76. Asthis is happening, the weighing dispenser l rises upwardly due to thelifting action of the lifter 3d, and is momentarily, yet eifectively,damped by the contact of the core of the electro-magnet i2 with thebracket Sil. in this manner, the weighing dispenser 18 is completelyreset and ready to deliver uniform consecutive batches of the product l2as they are deposited within the weighing dispenser lli.

To prevent the weighed batch of the product l2 from clogging the funnel52 at the bottom of the hopper 26, the anti-bridging device E4 is placedinto operation to prevent the bridging of the products l?, within theoutlet of the funnel 52. Previously the roll R of packaging material lahas been placed upon the spindle 62 which includes the mandrel 64. Thepackaging material is pulled upwardly over the former "iii and downbetween the plate 74 and heat sealer 72 into the area dominated by thejaws Mtl. Generally a few empty trial packages are formed, to see if thevarious components are adequately adjusted for the packages to beproduced. if any misalignment is found in the roll R of packagingmaterial ld, the air supply to the passageway dii is vented toatmosphere, so that the mandrel @d assumes the position shown in the tophalf of FlGURE 7. Thereupon, after lateral adjustment has been made inthe roll or" packaging material 14, the air is again supplied to thepassageway 68 inliating the mandrel dd into the position 64 so that theroll R of packaging material i4 is firmly held coaxially and laterallyon the spindle Thereafter the heat sealer 72 is brought into Contactwith the lapped edges of the tube T of packaging material i4 andadjusted to the proper tension by turning the knob Sd on the adjustablearm S43. Then the thermostatically controlled heat sealer 72 is placedin operation if this has not previously been done. When it is desired toshift the roll R of packaging material lid upon the spindle 62, then, ofcourse, the linger 93 on the adjustable arm 8? may be pulled outwardlyand the adjustable arm 3@ lengthened so that the heat sealer 72 is notin contact with the packaging material la and plate '74.

Thereupon, the heat Sealers lila and ldd, for the bottom and top of thepackages, respectively, are electrically heated to proper temperature,and the motor M is energized. As the crank 126 rotates, the frame lidreciprocates thereby moving the jaws lill upward and downward. Byelectrically disengaging the clutch ill, it is, of course, possible torun the motor M without reciprocating the frame llli, rl`hen with theproper sequence switches (not shown) the frame lid is moved upwardly andthe jaws il@ are closed by means of iluid through the inlet 144 in thepiston and cylinder arrangement 131i. At this time, the jaws liti formthe bottom of the package P to be filled, and the clutch liti is engagedmoving the frame L1A downwardly. rl`he product l2 in the weighingdispenser is then dumped downwardly through the hopper 26 and along theanti-bridging device 54 through the former 76 into the tube T ofpackaging material la and downwardly to the bottom of the partiallyformed package formed by the jaws llt?. When the trarne lill is moved tothe bottom oi its stroke, and the material l2 to be packaged has falleninto the partially termed package, iiuid is directed into the inletlli-2 opening the jaws and the frame lill is moved upwardly. Thereupon,fluid to the inlet ll42 is released and fluid is supplied to the inlet144 causing the jaws lill to close. As the jaws ll@ move inwardly anddownwardly, the strippers M3 rake along the tube T of packaging materialforcing the product l2 into the pertially completed package l). At thesame time, the deflators 172 push against the filled and partiallyformed package to expel the air entrapped therein upwardly through therecesses ldd in the stripper bars 150. Next, the jaws 1li) completelyclose so that the heat Sealers ltlfi form the bottom of the nextsucceeding package P and the heat Sealers Mid seal the top of the filledpackage l?. Then as the frame 1M- moves downwardly, the knife M38 isrnoved laterally when air is directed into the inlet ijti, separatingthe completed and filled package P from the tube T of packaging material14. Thus, a complete package P iilled with the product l2 has beenmanufactured and the packaging machine ld is ready to repeat the`sequence and make additional packages.

Therefore, as previously mentioned, the packaging machine l@ isparticularly useful in the packaging of light free-flowing products,such as potato chips, as Well as other or heavier products. Further, thepresent invention may be completely automated, so that the presence ofan operator is unnecessary and the entire machine is extremely flexibleso that varying weights, sizes and shapes ot' illed packages may beformed.

rhe present invention, therefore, is well adapted to carry out theobjects and attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as othersinherent therein. While a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention is given for the purpose of disclosure, numerous changes inthe details of construction and the combination, shape and size andarrangement of parts may be resorted without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is: t

l. ln a packaging machine for packaging a product in packaging material,weighing and dispensing means weighing the product to be packaged anddispensing the weighed product, forming means forming the packagingmaterial into a generally elongate tube, sealing and disengaging meanssealing the product Within the tube of packing material and disengagingthe iinished package from the tube, said weighing and dispensing meanscomprising a balance including a tubular body, a door pivotably mountedwithin said body, spring biased toggle means operatively connected tosaid door and substantially closing said door within said body in eachof two positions, said body forming part of a weighing means, means forpivoting said door to the other position when the product reaches apredetermined weight within said body and upon said door, and means forresetting and damping said weighing means after said door has pivotedand released the product trapped therein.

2. The invention of claim l wherein said means for pivoting said doorurges said Weighing means toward the balanced position while pivotingsaid door.

3. The invention of claim l wherein said means for resetting and dampingsaid weighing means include an electro-magnet attached to said packagingmachine, a bracket attached to said weighing means attracted to saidelectromagnet when energized, and means for energizing saidelectromagnet when said door is pivoted, thereby attracting andmomentarily holding said weighing means thus resetting and damping saidweighing means.

4. ln a machine for packaging a product in packaging material, weighingand dispensing means weighing the product to be packaged and dispensingthe weighed product, forming means forming the packaging material into agenerally'elongate tube, sealing and disengaging means sealing theproduct within the tube of packaging material and disengaging thefinished package from the tube, said sealing means including a tube edgesealer, a .first arm attachedV to said edge sealer and pivotally mountedon said packaging machine, and adjustable arm pivotally mounted on saidfirst arm and on said packaging machine, and said adjustable armincluding means for yieldably and adjustably varying its length betweensaid pivotable mounts.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said yieldablc and adjustable lengthvarying means for said adjustable arm comprises, a tubular'bodypivotably mounted on said packaging machine, a shaft rotatably andpivotably mounted on said first arm, a shaft extension within saidtubular body, screw threads on said extension, a nut telescopicallyslidable and non-rotatable within said body, and spring means urgingsaid nut and shaft telescopically within said body.

6. The invention of claim 4 wherein said adjustable arm includes meansfor releasably expanding its length, thereby disengaging said sealerfrom the packaging material to be sealed.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said releasably expanding meanscomprises, a shoulder on said shaft, a finger on said body Aarranged torcleasably contact said shoulder when said shaft is moved telescopicallyoutwardly in said body, thereby releasably lengthening said adjustablearm.

8. In an anti-bridging device lto prevent a product from bridging withina directing means, ya false side within said directing means, a rodattached to said false side and extending through said directing means,and means for reciprocating said false side inwardly and outwardly fromsaid directing means, said reciprocating means comprising a pistonattached to said rod, a cylinder about said piston mounted on saiddirecting means, fluid supply means communicating with said piston, andmeans for reciprocating said fluid, thereby reciprocating said piston,rod, and false side to prevent product bridging within said directingmeans.

9. In a packaging machine for packaging a product in packaging material,weighing and dispensing means weighing the product to be packaged anddispensing the weighed product, forming means forming the packagingmaterial into a generally elongate tube, sealing and disengaging meanssealing the product within the `tube of packaging material anddisengaging the nished package from the tube, and a stripper forclearing the product to be packaged from that `area of the tube ofpackaging material where the top of the package is to be sealed, saidstripper comprising a bar pivotably mounted on said packaging machineand adjacent said tube and arranged to rake inwardly and downwardlyagainst the tube of packaging material, thereby forcing the productwithin said tube downwardly, said bar having at least one recess therebyallowing air raked downwardly within said tube to escape upwardly withinsaid tube adjacent said recess.

l0. In a pair of symmetrical opposed strippers for clearing a product tobe packaged from that area of a tube of packaging material where the topof a package is to be sealed in a packaging machine, each strippercomprising, a horizontal bar, a shaft connected to said bar, a cylinderabout said shaft pivotally mounted on said packaging machine, fluidsupply means for pushing said shaft outwardly from said cylinder, andmeans for rotating said bars upwardly and outwardly away from said tubeof packaging material and inwardly and downwardly to rake said barsagainst the tube of packaging material thereby forcing the productwithin the tube downwardly, said stripper bars having recesses therebyallowing air raked downwardly within said tube of packaging material toescape upwardly within said recesses.

11. In a machine for packaging a product in packaging material, weighingand dispensing means weighing the product to be packaged and dispensingthe weighed prod- 18 uct, .formingmeans lforming the packaging materialyinto a generally elongate tube, sealing and disengaging means ,forsealing the product within lthe tube of packaging imatevrial anddisengaging the finishedv package .from .the tube,

appair of symmetrical -opposed `deflators expelling excess air from thefilled partially completed package, pivotal mounting means attached toysaid packaging machine for holding said deflators, `each deflatorsuspended from and pivotally mounted onsaid pivotal mountingmeans, meansfor pivoting said mounting means, whereby said `deilators are pivotedvupwardly .andoutwfardlyfor filling the tube of packaging material andinwardly vand .downwardly for pressingsaid-dellators .againstthefilledppartially .completed package, thereby expellingexcess air fromthe package, -a cam attached to the deflator, and an upright attached tosaid packaging machine arranged to strike the cam thereby pivoting thedeflator when moving inwardly and downwardly toward the filled partiallycompleted package.

12. The invention of claim 10 including an upright attached to saidpackaging machine at the midpoint between said pivotably mountedcylinder thereby preventing either bar when moving inwardly anddownwardly from extending past th-e midpoint between the points wheresaid cylinders are pivotably mounted.

13. The invention of claim ll wherein said cam is adjustably attached tosaid deflator.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein each deflator comprises a :firsthorizontal roller, a linkage pivotably mounted adjacent said firstroller, a second horizontal roller suspended yfrom said linkage intandem with said first roller, and wherein said cam is attached to saidlinkage whereby said cam pivots said second roller when moving inwardlyand downwar-dly toward the filled par tially completed package.

15. The invention of claim 13 wherein each dellator comprises a platepivotally mounted on and suspended from said pivotal mounting means, anda resilient layer attached to the inner surface of said plate, saidlayer having a smooth, slick outer surface for contacting said packagingmaterial.

16. In a defiating means for 4expelling excess -air from a filledpackage yformed from a tube of packaging material in a packagingmachine, the combination with Ia pair of vertically reciprocatinginwardly and downwardly pivoting jaws of, a deflator on each jaw, anupright member intermediately disposed between said pivoting jaws, andadjustable means operably connected to said deflators contacting saidupright member as said jaws move inwardly and downwardly therebyadjusting the final position of s-aid deflators.

17. In a pair of vertically reciprocating inwardly and downwardlypivoting jaws for a packaging machine, a stripper bar mounted on eachjaw which rakes inwardly and downwardly to push the product to bepackage into the partially formed package, said stripper bar havingrecesses to allow air entrapped in said package to escape upwardly,deflators attached to said jaws to rapidly expel entrapped air upwardlyfrom said package, and a horizontal heat sealer yieldingly mounted on atleast one of said jaws to uniformly grip the packaging material and toform a horizontal seal therein.

18. The invention of claim 17 including, an upright mounted reciprocallyat the midpoint between said jaws engagea-ble with either stripper atthe midpoint thereby preventing either stripper from extending past themidpoint when pivoting inwardly and downwardly.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein said deflators `are pivotablyattached to said jaws with a linkage, a cam attached to said linkagewhich strikes said upright when the jaws move inwardly `and downwardlythereby forcing the deator toward the package.

20. In a packaging machine, the combination of electromagnetic resettingweighing means weighing the product to be packaged, dispenser meansdispensing the weighed :product into la hopper, rotatable inatablemandrel means adjustably securing a roll of packaging material laterallyand holding said roll coaxially on said mandrel means,

-tube forming means forming `a tube of said packaging material,anti-bridging means reciprocally mounted within :said hopper, edgesealing means sealing said tube of packaging material, said edge sealingmeans mounted on an -adjustable disengageable arm, and reciprocatingrotatable jaws, including stripper means forcing said product to bepackaged into a partially formed package, deator means vexpelling excessair from said package after lling, and

References Cited in the le'of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS HofmannJune 28,

Zwoyer Ian. l, Allen Feb. 10, Zwoyer Jan. 20, Bartlo Dec. 8, Engvall May24, Gausman Aug. 30, Gausman Oct. 18, Leasure Jan. 31, Willard Oct. 31,

1. IN A PACKAGING MACHINE FOR PACKAGING A PRODUCT IN PACKAGING MATERIAL,WEIGHING AND DISPENSING MEANS WEIGHING THE PRODUCT TO BE PACKAGED ANDDISPENSING THE WEIGHED PRODUCT, FORMING MEANS FORMING THE PACKAGINGMATERIAL INTO A GENERALLY ELONGATE TUBE, SEALING AND DISENGAGING MEANSSEALING THE PRODUCT WITHIN THE TUBE OF PACKING MATERIAL AND DISENGAGINGTHE FINISHED PACKAGE FROM THE TUBE, SAID WEIGHING AND DISPENSING MEANSCOMPRISING A BALANCE INCLUDING A TUBULAR BODY, A DOOR PIVOTABLY MOUNTEDWITHIN SAID BODY, SPRING BIASED TOGGLE MEANS